Reflecting signal



. Patented Sept. 21, 1926.

)UNITED 4STATES KIMIBROUGH, F BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIAn nEFLEc'rINeSIGNAL.

Application led February 10, 1926. Serial No. 87,336.

This invention relates to signalling devicesfand is more articularlyadaptedk to a reflecting signal w ich is operated by the light raysreceived from the headlight of 5 approaching vehicles.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide areflecting signal which may be placed in the roadway as well as adjacentthe same, the signal being Aof such-construction` as to enable thewheels of motor vehicles to pass over the signal without breaking orotherwise damaging the same. f A still further object is to provide arefleeting signal of the above mentioned character which will at al1times be positive and eliicient in carrying out'the purposes for whichit is designed, means being furtherv associated with the signal' forautomatically maintaining the same in an `operative position even whenthe wheels of a motor vehicle accidentally engage the. signal whenpassing thereover.

A still further object is to provide a refleeting signal of the abovementioned character which is simple in construction, mexpensive, strongand durable and further well adapted to the purpose for which 1t isdesigned.

l Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent uduring the course of the'following descriptlon taken 1n connection withthe accompanying drawings.'

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and inwhich like numerals designate like parts throughout the same: s

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the reflecting\signal embodying myinvention showing the same supported 1n the ground. i

Figure 2 1s a vertical sectional view there- /th11pugh, and fr. 'd t 1 ire 3 is a agmenta eai e ective gell a modification shldywing thleilIlisiiige of the signal in either direction.

In the drawing, wherein vfor the purpose of illustration is shown thepreferredembodiment of my invention, with reference more particular toFi res land \2, the refleeting signal is deslgnated generallyl by the'numeral 1. The reflecting signal comprises the base 2 ywhich is formedof a relaconstruction for facilitating the swinging shownin Figure 2offthe tively wide stripl of sheet' metal, the same having 1ts lower endrolled as indicated at 65 3. This base plate is embedded verticallyinthe ground either in the center of the highway, or at the side thereofin such a manner as to have the upper portion of the lbase plateprojecting above the surface of the 00 road as indicated at 4.

The reflecting'signal further includes the reflector carrying member 5which is alsov formed of sheet metal material and is of substantiallythe same widthas the base plate 2. The lower portion 'of the plate 5 is'hingedly secured to the upper portion 4 of the base plate 2 vasindicated at 6, an axial coil spring 7 being associated with the hinge Ifor the purpose of normally maintaining the plate in vertical alignment.Suitable coacting stops 8 and 9 are formed on the plates 2 and 5respectively adjacent their hinged ends and are arranged on oppositesides of the hinge connection between the plates as 'Hil is more clearlyshown in Figure 2. These stop members will limit the swinging movementof the reflector carryin member 5 in one direction and are prefera lyformed by providing laterally disposed projections on each of the sideedges of the plate which lateral projections are' bent rearwardly;

The upper portion of the plate-like member 5 is circular design andadapted to' be supported on the opposed sides or faces of 35 thecircular portion of the member 5. are the reflectors 10 and 11respectively. The reflector 10 is preferablycolored red, while thereflector 11 is colored blue. These reiiectors are secured in positionon the opno posed sides of the circular portion of the plate 5 by meansof the retaining or clamp- 'ing rings 12 and 13 respectively, the ringsbeing secured in position on the opposed sides of the platethrough themedium of on the bolts 14. The manner in which the' `clamping rings 12and 13 cooperate with the 4 reflectors 10 and 11 is also more clearlydrawing.

Also secured on opposite sidesor faces of the circular portion of theplate 5, and encircling the reflectors 10 and 411 are rubber protectorrings 15 and 16 res ctvely. These rubber protector rings areofubstantially the same diameter as the diameter of 1 the circularportion of the plate and further Vwill project beyond the thi as wellas-the threaded ends The ight of a greater thickness than the greatestthickness of the reflectors so that the outer faces of the lrespectiverubber protector rings c ened portion of the respectiveretlectors.'

The purpose of this arrangement will be hereinafter more fullydescribed. f The rubber protector ri are secured on the plate throughthe m ium of the bolt 17, and suitable 'pockets 18 are formed in each ofthe rubber protector rings adjacent the perimeter for accommodatin thehead an nuts car` i-ied thereon of the securing bolt so that the ends ofthe bolts will not project beyond the outer faces of the res tiverotector rings'. The inner opposed aces o the protector rings are alsoaccommodate t e bolts 14 which secure the reflector retaning'rings,

A ,reflecting signal of the character above described isarranedreferably in'the roadwy adjacent eac si e thereof -so that the r coloredreflectors 4of the pair of signals will be disposed adjacent or ratherlfacing the intersectionorwcurv linfthe road and shoulda vehicle aproach the intersection, theA blue colored `r will receive thera of lightemanating from the vehicle headlights of the app vehicle, andsuch raysof light will be uti ized to dis .lay a to the `driver of the approacing vehicle that the vehicle is about to a roach lan intersection or acurve. j of a vehicle approaching from' the op te direction will be castupon the red co credV reflector which is arranged on the opposite sideof the road, thus warning the driver of the vehicle of the intersectionor curve in theroad.

Should the wheels of the vehicle traveling o ver the hi way accidentallyengage 'the signal, the hinge' 6 will rmit the to swing downwardly in edirection of the arrow so that the wheels will pass over the signal andwill not come in, contact with reflectors due to the provision of therubber.

protector rings andwill `thereby'enablie the vehicle to pass over thesignal without break-l ing or otherwise dam the reector members. Afterthe vlixfe wheels have passed over the signal, the axial coil Bp `F[willagain returntheplatetoitsno upright position, .the stop members 8 and 9maintaining the signal member in its operativIe ppsition.

n igure3ofthedrawing' Ihaveilluatrated a modification wherein the niember is permitted to swing in either direction and this constructionis' necessary where the signal member is at'the center of theintersection, and is liable to bedruckl by vehicles. a in eitherdirection; In the mo'ilicatioh2 the base 20 il` r0- videdwiththeattachingangesman 22 26, the upper rovided with pockets 19 to'"one direction. A lateral and 32 ,cooperate to provide Leccesewhich aredisposed in opisite directions, the samehein n, adapted to secured inany suitable stan ard or support lwhich is embedded in the ground, theila'nges being rovided with suitable openings illustrate at 23 toreceive the appropriate fastening means. The reflector carrying memberis indicated at 24, and an intermediate strip 25 is hingedly secured atits lower end to the upper portion of the base as illustrated at rtionof the intermediate hingedly secured to the lower Strip being member 24as end of the reflector carryi at 27. These hinges are posite sides ofthe intermediate strips.'

An aiiial coil spring 28 is associated with each of the hinges. l

Lateral projections 29 are formed on the side edges f the intermediatestrips 25, adjacent the lower portion thereof, and these projections aredisposed rearwardly for cooperation `with similar projections 30 formedon the side e tion of the base 20. of projections provide a the swingingmovement hese coacting pairs means for limiting of the strip 25 inprojection 31 is formed on each of the si intermediate strip 25 adjacentthe upper rtion thereof and are disposed forwardly or cooperation withthe forwardly disprojections 32' formed on the side ed ofthe reflectorcarrying member 24 adjacentthe lowerA end thereof. The last mentionedpair of lateral v/projectionsfl a means for limitin the-forward swingingmovement of the ntermediate strip 25, and the reflector carrying member24.

This construction enables the s' to be swung in either direction and itis of course understood that the signal member is protected by therubber protector rings in the same manner as has been heretofore morefully explained. 0

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, that I haveprovided a highly novel, pet simple signal which utilizes the rays olight from the headlights of a preaching vehicles for actuating the siand fart ermore a of the above mentioned character will at all times bepositive of the upper por-- e edges of thel a carrier member secured onsaid base, a reflector, a clamping ring extending over the edge portionof the reflector and secured on the face of said carrier member, and arubber protector ring secured on said face of the carrier member andextending over the clamping ring, said rubber protector ring being ofgreater thickness than the reflector. i

2. A reflecting signal comprising a base, a carrier member hingedly'secured at' its lower end portion to the upper portion of the base, areflector arranged on the face of the carrier member, an axial coilspring associated with the hinge connection between the base and thecarrier member, and coacting stop members extending laterally from thelower portion of the carrier member and the upper portion ofthe base.

A reflecting signal comprising a base plate extending vertically, areflector carrying member, an intermediate strip hingedly secured at itslower edge to the upper edge portion of the base plate, the upper edgeportion of the intermediate strip being hingedly securedtto the loweredge portion of' the reflector carrying member, the aforementionedhinges being disposed on oppo- 'site sides of the intermediate strip, anaxial coil spring associa-ted with each hinge, coacting stop memberscarried by the lower portion of the intermediate strip and the upperportion of the base plate, and additional coacting stop lmembersextending laterally from the opposite side of the upper portion of theintermediate strip and the lower portion of the reflector carryingmember.

In testimony whereof I affix my signa-l ture.

WILLIAM KIMBROUGH.

